Swimmer&#39;s device



April 15, 1930. J. WILCOX SWIMMER S DEVICE Filed May 7, 1928 INVENTOR Ja/m L. M'lcmc ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1930 Fries JOHN L. WILCOX, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON SWIMMERS DEVICE Application filed May '7,

This invention relates to a type of devices known as swimming-mite; and its object is to provide a novel form and comfortably worn device of this character which will enable a swimmer to propel himself through the water at a greater speed and with a less expenditure of labor than hitherto.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mit embodying my invention, the dotted lines indicating the outlines of a hand to which the mit is applied. Figs. 2, 3 and 1 are sectional views of the mit on lines 22, 33 and 4z4i, re-

spectively, of Fig. 1, the wrist strap in Figs.

2 and 3 being shown difierently arranged from that in which it is represented in Fig. 1. In carrying out my invention I provide a body formed of two thin plates 5 and 6, of aluminum or other suitable light-weight metal, disposed one above the other. The lower plate 5 is formed to provide an oblong front portion 7 and a rearwar'dly extending portion 8, hereinafter termed the wrist portion.

The latter is provided at opposite sides with wing elements 9 which are apertured, as at 10, for engagement with a leather strap 11 having a buckle 12 whereby the mit is de tachably connected to a persons wrist.

Centrally of the front or hand portion 7 the plate 5 is dished, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and over the top of the cavity thereof is positioned the plate 6. This plate is secured about its margins to the plate 5 to provide a chamber 13 for containing air to render the device buoyant in the water.

The plate 6 is of smaller dimensions than the hand portion 7 of the plate 5 thereby Y affording the latter end and side marginal extensions 14 and 15 which protrude outside the end and side edges respectively of the plate 6 which serves as the cover for the chamber 13.

i Said marginal extensions, as shown in 1928. Serial No. 275,612.

Figs. 2 and 3, are inclined upwardly from the plane of the cover plate 6 thereby providing a shallow cavity thereabove which is advantageous in swimming.

16 represents a bridge piece, desirably of metal, which extends transversely of the device and is secured at its ends as by means of rivets 17 torthe side extensions 15 of the plate 7. The strap 16 is formed or arranged to have its mid-portion spaced from the cover plate 6 to accommodate a persons hand in the intervening space 18.

For use a swimmer inserts his hand, palm uppermost, into the space 18 below the bridge 16 until stopped by the fleshy part of the palm below the thumb joint; thus arranged, the device is brought into juxtaposition with the wearers wrist, and is firmly secured thereto by the strap-and-buckle attachments 11 and 12. The manner above described of coupling the mit to a persons hand is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the hand is indicated by dotted or broken lines.

The manner of operating the device will be obvious to a swimmer, affording him a relatively large area of surface to impart a most effective propelling stroke, and with a relatively small vertical section which permits a rapid recovery stroke with little resistance.

The present improvement, moreover, provides a structure which may be made of a stiff materialas metal or an equivalent which retains its shape, the chamber providing buoyancy sufiicient to keep the mit afloat in case it is cast oif from the hand.

Furthermore, the invention does not confine the fingers and thumb of the hand, permitting their unconstrained movement whereby the hand may be used for grasping an object such, for example, as a rope or the side of a boat.

The novel features above referred to are advantageous to a swimmer when in the water, giving more freedom to the movements of his hands and fingers than with any other mit known to me.

What I claim, is

As a new article of manufacture, a swimming mit of sheet metal or other like stiff ice material and comprising a body portion of a general oblong shape with an extension at one end thereof to engage the wrist of the wearer, said body portion being formed with an air tight chamber therein of less length and width than the length and width of the body to provide marginal flanges at the front and side edges respectively of the body, a bridge member rigid with the body and extending transversely thereof and in spaced relation therewith to receive the hand and permitting freedom of movement to the thumb and fingers of the hand, and means provided upon the body extension for firmly securing the same to the wearers wrist.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 17th day of April, 1928.

JOHN L. WILCOX. 

